John's gospel reading for Easter Sunday takes us right to the tomb on the first Easter morning. Day has hardly broken. Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb to find it empty. She runs to get the others. All they find are burial wrappings – no Jesus.

No one expects the Resurrection, despite all Jesus had foretold about it. They expect Jesus to still be lying in the tomb. Even when they have seen the empty tomb, their first thought is that someone has stolen his body.

To celebrate Easter is to remember that Jesus still lives and walks among us. The tomb is empty; Jesus is alive!

Easter lasts for a total of 50 days, from Easter Sunday until the feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Christ. This year, 2024, Easter was on March 31 and runs until Pentecost Sunday, May 19. 

PROJECT COMPASSION GIVING

A huge thank you to everyone who helped with our fundraising efforts for Project Compassion. From both our classroom money boxes and Easter egg raffles we raised an amazing $1191.25. The Caritas organisation will use our donations to help many people in need throughout the world. The generosity of the St Columbkille's community is incredible, thank you all.

SACRAMENTAL UPDATE

Father Patrick and the Sacramental Team met yesterday to discuss the updates to the Sacramental programs for 2024. Year 6 will make their Confirmation, Year 3 their First Holy Communion and Year 2 their First Reconciliation. If your child is not in these grades and were unable to be a part of the sacraments last year, please let me know. Enrolment forms will be sent out early in Term 2.

ANZAC DAY 

An Anzac Day commemoration will be held at school on the first day back after the holidays, Monday 29th April. This short acknowledgement will form part of our morning assembly on Balawarri (our Front Cement area).

MOTHERS DAY CELEBRATIONS

SAVE THE DATE: Our Mothers Day liturgy celebration and morning tea will be held on Friday 10th May at 9:15am.